Switch.



G. GAGLIO @L L. VILLANI.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1907.

918,434. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

f f/a gm m 'W22 UNITED singes PATENT onirica.

GIOVANNI GAGLIO AND LUIGI VILLANI, OF MILAN, ITALY.

SWITCH.

Be it known that we, GiovANNI GAGLio,

post-office ofiicial, and LUIGI VILLANI, electrician, subjects ofthe King of Italy, residing at Milan, Italy, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a time switch device of that type )wherein a sand glass or like device is used and bymeans of which special devices are brought into circuit closing position and so remain until the sand or other material 'in the glass has passed from one portion thereof into another part of the same.

The primary object of the invention is to l provide a simple and eifective switch of the character specified having a positive operation and reliable in the performanceof its function, 'the switchbeing wholly automatic in its operation and preventing any waste of current, as it does not contain any devices closing position.

which would have the tendency to utilize current in a wasteful manner.

The present switch has been devised particularly for use in connection with electric llamps and to control the latter'as to their lighted and extinguished condition through the medium of a movable device, such as a4 door.

rPhe switch may also be used for signaling` purposes .interru ting the flow of liguids or gases by control ing the actuation o valves -or for any vother purpose embodying 4an elec-y yIn the accompanying drawing a preferred 1 embodiment of the invention is ustrated to demonstrate one practical i.form ofthe apparatus, and therein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the switch or showing one of the frame plates or members.. removed and particularly illustrating the switch in a position of rest. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the switch `organization in circuit Fig. 3 is a section taken transversely through the switch organization in the plane -o the line :1s-y, Fig'. 1.

' The apparatus comprises two plates d and b which are suitably spaced and lform a frame, a wheel i being carried by and projecting below the frame for engagement -wlth a rod Z.

projecting from a door or other movable device, as shown in connection with Fig. 1, therod l being brought into contact with the wheel i when the door is opened. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 2, 1907.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 400,420.

' wheel i is mounted on a pivoted arm at tache-d to the plate a and the wheel is therefore free to oscillate within certain limits.

grooved and provided with a resilient or rubber ring c cylindrical in cross-section to contact in a manner which will be presently explained. The wheel i supported as specified' may be properly termed an actuator, and to render the arm Z eiiective it is preferably formed of resilient material and of such dimensions as to be positive in its operation with relation to the said wheel i.

The switch mechanism roper consists of an hour-glass containing liquid or- .owder, the passage of the latter from one bul to the other requiring a determined lapse of time. The hour-glass c is inclosed within a metallic tube orcaslng d to prevent breaking the same, the said casing for the hour-glass being rotatable through the medium of suitable pins e mounted inthe plates a and b. At one side of the casing 'el a cam f of suitable material and with concaved edges is mounted on one otthe pins e to move the said tube or-casing simultaneously therewith, and on this cam is iixedky an 4electrical switch g against which, at diametrically opposite points, two copper springs hhave caring and act as brushes. 'l'he su porting means for the springs h are thereto in lany suitable manner, and the switch g is so constructed that it will make theoircuit when the springs or brushes h are in one position thereon and break the circuit another position on the `said switch.. switch g 1s rotated with the tube or casing d or with the cam and 'said tube orcasi and the tube or casing carrying the hour-g ass is thrown over from one position to another by the -wheel i. which is brought into'contact therewith, as will be -more fully hereinafter ex lained.

rojecting outwardly from the tube or casing d are studs m -and the said studs being at op osite extremities of the casing and adapte to respectively engagea 'locking pawl 'nl and a lever o having a depending contacting arm o adjacent to its ulcrum point and a cou'nterpoise weight p 'and in an -opposite o eration or when the tube' or casing d and t e hourlass c are overturned b'y the wheel *i throng the medium of the carnf, the stud m will ride downwardly over the pawl n The periphery of the wheel 'i is preferably operate as a buiier or to produce a cushioned Awhen the said springs or brushes occupxy- T e adapte" -to have the circuit wir'es attached l the sai and engage the end of said awl to hold the tube or casing and hour-g ass in iXed adjusted position and the stud q will rest adjacent to the arm o1 of the lever o, and when the arts are restored tothe position sho .vn by l* ig. 1 the said stud q will contact with the arm 0,1, raise and'pass the lever, and move over the pawl n, andthe stud mrwill continue upwardly and likewise pass the arm o1 of the lever o. It will be seen, therefore, that the pawl n serves as alocking means and the ever 0 with its counterpoise weight controls the movement of the tube or casing d and hour-glass@ to prevent too rapid overturnin and overcome any tendency to breakage and displacement ofthe s ring arms or brushes h or fracture of the our-glass. it a ill be understood that the hour-glass, by reason of the change 'of position of the liquid or sand therein, willbe suthcient to operate a tube or casing at intervals.

Let it be presumed that the apparatus is :ined above a door to which the yielding rod or analogous device lis secured, and that the apparatus is in the osition of rest as shown by Fig. l. When't e door is opened the rod or analogous device Z will contact with and press against the wheel i and gradually raise wheel until it engages the adjacent portion of the cam and the continued openmg movement of t e door and the tendency of the rod or analogous device Zto pass under the wheel will cause the saidwheel to rotate in the direction ofthe arrow, shown by Fig. 1,

and imparta turning movement to the cam]` in the direction of the arrow thereon and throw the tube or casing d containing the hour-glass over in the direction of the arrow at the upper right-hand portion of FigJl. This movement of the tube or casing will cause the stud m to pass downwardly over the pawl n and any backward movement 'of the tube or casing will-be obstructed by the said'stud m vengaging the lower free end 'of lthe .pawl and the arts will then be in the lposition shown by ig. 2.. The ca m f as shown has opposite convex extremities and intermediate concave sides and the wheel i fric-l tionally enga es with one of the convex extremities-an enters the' following concave side and holds the tube or casing against movement that might ensue from momentum if there was no restriction tosuch movement.-

, In the position of the parts shown by Fig. 2 the circuit is closed, and when the door is again closed the rod or'analogous device Z and thewheel i assume the position shown in Fig.`2 by reason of the fact that the said rod lisv released from the wheel i. The sand or liquid, which has been located in the lower portion ol' the hour-glass prior to the overturnin movement as just explained, will by suc overturningmovement be disposed at the upper portion of the apparatus mensa and the empty bulb will then be at the lower portion of the a paratus and the tube o1: casing carrying tlie hour-glass by reason of the preponderance of weight at its upper portion, willv have a tendency to return to normal position, butthis'tendency will be obstructed by the stud fm engaging the pawl n, as hereinbei'ore explained, and consequently the two-springs or brushes h positively close the circuit through the switch g. As the sand or liquid passes from the upper bulb to the lower bulb of the hourglass the weight increased at the bottom or lower extremity of the tube or casing will cause the said tube or casing and parts cooperating therewith to again assume the po,- sition shown by Fig. l, turning in the diorection of the arrow .or from right to left. A complete overturningv movement o the tube or casing will, however, be prevented from the position shownby Fi 2 by the stud q. engaging the arm ox of t e lever o, and it, wil be understood that the casing does not assume anv upright lposition until a given quantity of sand has fallen into the lower bulb and which will be so timed as to perl mit the'circuit to remain closed lon enough to accomplish a desired purpose or 'unctiorL lt will be understood that when the casing assumes its vertical position' the circuit is broken, and if the circuit includes lamps, the latter will be simultaneously extinguished.

The apparatus may be varied in dimensions to adapt lit for different applications, and it maybe generally employed wherever .it is desired to open and close an electric circuit for a certain length of time.-

What is claimed is: i 1. An electric time switch operating mechanism comprising a devicev having an overturning movement -and containing a counterpoise mediumwhich varies its position therein, a switch carried by the said device, circult brushes engaging t e switch, arotatable friction means movable in relation to and enga-geable with a part of said device, v

and movable means for operating said rotatable friction means. l

2. .An electric time switch operating mechanism comprising a device having an overturning movement and containing a counterpoise medium which variesy its position therein, a switch carried by said device, circuit terminallmeans enga g the switch, a cam carried by the said (dice, a rotatable said cam and adapted to have contact with the latter, and movable means for operating said rotatable friction means. 3. An electric time switch operating mechanism comprising a switch having an overturning device connected thereto and provided with variable counterpoise means therein, circuit terminal means engaging the switch, and rotatable frictional means movl2() friction means movable in relation to the v aisne@- able into engagement with a portion of the overturning devicefor actuating the latter.

4. An electric time switch operating mechanism comprising a switch having means for changing t 1e position thereof provided with variable Weight shifting instrumentality, circuit terminal means engaging the switch, and rotatable friction means movable into engafement with a portion of the said means e for cianging the position of the switch for actuating the position changing means.

5. An electric time switch operating 1nechanism comprising a switch having a rotatable device connected thereto and provided With variable counterpoise means therein, circuit terminal means engaging the switch,

means Vfor preventing the return of the switch and rotatable device to inoperative position until the variable counterpoise means has moved from one position to another in the said rotatable device, and rotatable frictional means movable into engagement with a portion oi' the rotatable device to dispose the latter and the switch in operative position.

ln testimony whereoil we have signed our naines to this specification in the presence ol' two subscribing witnesses.

GIGYANNI GGLG. LUlGl YlLLANl.

Vif'itnesses:

B. CARLO SALvoTr, M. SrENnoRPEN, Jr. 

